Cover device for slide way

ABSTRACT

A cover device for covering slide ways formed on a stationary base and a slide including a first cover member held in overlapped engagement with a second cover member. Each cover member includes a front plate for covering the front of the slide ways and side plates extending perpendicularly to the front plate for covering the sides of the slide ways. The first cover member is pivoted to the stationary base at one end thereof, and the second cover member is pivoted to the slide at one end thereof with the other ends of the first and second cover members being supported so as to be slidably guided with respect to each other.

United States Patent 1191 Ito 1 [4 Nov. 18, 1975 COVER DEVICE FOR SLIDE WAY 3.7ss,41 s 1/1974 Hennig et al. 308/36 x [75] Inventor: Teruyuki Ito, Kariya, Japan P E M H w d J rzmary xammerenson 0o r. [73] Asslgnee: Kabushlkbxalsha, Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Alchl Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ob]on, Fisher, Spivak,

[22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1974 McClelland & ale 1 21 Appl. No.: 498,411 1 [57] ABSTRACT [30] F i Application priority Data A cover device for covering slide ways'formed on a Au 29 1973 h an 48402032 stationary base and a slide including a first cover P a member held in overlapped engagement with a second [52] us CL 308/3 160/202. cover member. Each cover member includes a front [51] Int Cl 2 17/00 plate for covering the front of the slide ways and side [58] Fieid Se a r A 3 5 3 plates extending perpendicularly to the front plate for 1607202 covering the sides of the slide ways. The first cover member is pivoted to the stationary base at one end thereof, and the second cover member is pivoted to [56] References Clad the slide at one end thereof with the other ends of the UN D STATES PATENTS first and second cover members being supported so as 3 282 315 3; j f n to be slidably guided with respect to each other.

O "SO11. 3,658,113 4/1972 Loos 308/35 X 5 Claims, 5 Figures I n 1- I n w 1'5 v 1 n fi a 8 I +1 x 1, z ii! 2 r 1 \v VII/l y US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,920,288

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U.S. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,920,288

COVER DEVICE FOR SLIDE WAY BACKGROUND oF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a cover de- 5 d vice and more particularly to a cover device for covering a slide way.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, slide ways which are formed on a slide and a stationary base are precisely machined and finished such that the slide is accurately guided on the base.

When chips, grains orcoolant containing such materials enter and attach to the slide ways, the slide way is apt to become damaged such thatthe sliding resistance of the slide increases or the slide way rusts particularly in case where a water soluble coolant is used.

In order to overcome such disadvantages, it has been proposed that the slideway be covered by a metallic cover member fixed to the slide ,at the upper end thereof and an elastic vinyl seat be fixed to the stationary base at the lower end thereof. In such a conventional cover device, the elastic vinyl seat is repeatedly bent each time the slide is forwardly and backwardly moved on the stationary base. Asa result, the'vinyl seat is liable'to be damaged in a relatively short'time such that its full function cannot be performed. Thus, it has been difficult to protect the slide way over a long period of time from harmful materials such as chips and grains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and unique cover device for covering a slide way to prevent coolant, chips and grains from entering into the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new, unique and durable cover device for protecting a slide way from coolant, chips and grains over a long period of time.

According to the present invention, these and other objects are achieved by a cover device which includes first and second cover members which are overlapped with each other and are respectively pivoted to a stationary base and a slide each at one end thereof and which are supported so as to be guided with respect to each other at the other ends thereof for covering slide ways which are formed on the slide and stationary base. The first cover member includes a first front plate for covering the front of the slide ways and first side plates extending perpendicularly to the first front plate for covering the sides of the slide ways. The second cover member includes a second front plate for covering the front of the slide way, second side plates extending perpendicularly to the second front plate for covering the sides of the slide ways and guide recesses formed on the second side plates for slidably receiving the first side plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cover device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view, partly broken away, taken in the direction of an arrow II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first cover; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second cover;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the cover device wherein the slide is in the retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a b'ed l of agrinding machine fixedly mounts thereon a stationary base 2 on which slide ways 4 are formed to slidably mount a wheel slide 3. A grinding wheel 5 is rotatably mounted on the wheel slide 3. A first cover 6 is rotatably mounted on the stationary base 2, and a second cover 10 is rotatably mounted on the wheel slide 3. The first cover 6 includes an arch shape front plate 6a having a curved flange portion 60 on the lower end thereof and a pair of parallel side plates 6b secured perpendicularly to andbackwardly extending from both ends of the archshape front plate 60, as is bestshown in FIG. 3. The curved flange portion 60 is pivoted at both ends thereof by pins 9 which are secured to blocks 8 mounted on the stationary base 2. The second cover 10 includes-an arch. shape front plate 10a and a pair of parallel side plates 10b secured perpendicularly to and backwardly extending from both ends of the arch shape front plate 10a. A guide recess 10c is formed on the inner side of each side plate 10b for slidably receiving each side plate 6b of the first cover 6. The second cover 10 is interposed between side cover members 7 which are fixed to and extend downwardly from both sides of the wheel slide 3 so as to cover the slide ways 4. The second cover 10 is pivoted at the upper portions of side plates 10b by pins 12 which are fixed to blocks 11 formed on the wheel slide 3. A seal member 13 is mounted on the stationary base 2 so as to be held in contact engagement with the outer surface of the curved flange portion 6c to thereby prevent coolant from entering from the lower portion of the first cover 6 into a space which is formed by the first and second covers 6 and 10, the wheel slide 3 and the stationary base 2.

The operation of the present embodiment is described hereinbelow.

FIG. 1 shows a first state of the cover device wherein the wheel slide 3 is in the advanced end position. In such position, the first and the second covers 6 and 10 are inclined, as is shown in FIG. 1. The front portion of the slide ways 4 is covered by the arch shape front plates 6a and 10a, and the side portions of the slide ways 4 are covered by the side plates 6b and 10b. Thus, coolant is prevented from entering into the space inside the cover device.

When the wheel slide 3 is retracted, the first and the second covers slide with respect to each other and are gradually moved into the state shown in FIG. 5. The first cover 6 is then rotated in a clockwise direction about the pin 9 and the second cover 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction about the pin 12. In spite of the displacement of first and second covers 6 and 10, the front and side portions of slide ways 4 are protected by the front plates 6a and 10a, the side plates 6b and 10b, and the seal member 13. The middle and rear portions of the slide ways 4 existing behind the second cover are covered by the side cover members 7.

As is mentioned above, the cover device, according to the present invention, is durable in comparison with conventional cover devices since it is not constructed by a rubber or vinyl seat. Furthermore, since the free ends of the front plates 6a and 10a are supported so as to be guided with each other, the cover device is automatically extended and contracted in accordance with the movement of the wheel slide 3 relative to the stationary base 2. Thus, the movement of the wheel slide 3 is not affected by the cover device. Since the side plates 6b and 10b are overlapped with each other at the sides of the slide ways 4, the sides of the slide ways 4 are covered by either the plate 6b and 10b, such that coolant is prevented from entering inside the cover device.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the inven-, tion has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications and variations thereof are possible in light of the above teachings. [t is to be understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is:

l. A coverdevice for covering slide ways formed on a stationary base and a slide, comprising:

a first cover member rotatably mounted on said stationary base, said firstcover member comprisinga first front plate for covering the front of said slide ways and first side plates extending perpendicularly to said first front plate for covering the sides of said slide ways, and

a second cover member rotatably mounted on said slide, said second cover member comprising a second front plate for covering the front of said slide ways, second side plates extending perpendicularly to said second front plate for covering the sides of said slide ways and guide recesses formed onsaid 3. A cover device according to claim 1, wherein said I first front plate has a curved flange portion, said curved flange portion being rotatably connected to said stationary base by a pin.

4. A cover device according to claim 3, further com-, prising a seal member fixed to said stationary base at one end thereof and held in contact engagement with said curved flange portion at the other end thereof.

5. A cover device according to claim 1, further comi prising side cover members mounted on both sides of said slide, and said first and said second covers being received between said side cover members. 

1. A cover device for covering slide ways formed on a stationary base and a slide, comprising: a first cover member rotatably mounted on said stationary base, said first cover member comprising a first front plate for covering the front of said slide ways and first side plates extending perpendicularly to said first front plate for covering the sides of said slide ways, and a second cover member rotatably mounted on said slide, said second cover member comprising a second front plate for covering the front of said slide ways, second side plates extending perpendicularly to said second front plate for covering the sides of said slide ways and guide recesses formed on said second side plates for slidably receiving said first side plates.
 2. A cover device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second front plates are of an arch shape.
 3. A cover device according to claim 1, wherein said first front plate has a curved flange portion, said curved flange portion being rotatably connected to said stationary base by a pin.
 4. A cover device according to claim 3, further comprising a seal member fixed to said stationary base at one end thereof and held in contact engagement with said curved flange portion at the other end thereof.
 5. A cover device according to claim 1, further comprising side cover members mounted on both sides of said slide, and said first and said second covers being received between said side cover members. 